NEW JERSEY (WABC) — A week after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order allowing New Yorkers easier access to COVID vaccines, New Jersey is now following suit.
The New Jersey Department of Health issued an executive directive on Tuesday, allowing anyone six months of age and older to receive a COVID shot if they want one.
The department also issued a standing order authorizing pharmacists in the state to administer the shots without a prescription.
“At a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing across the country and as part of my Administration’s dedication to evidence-based public health action, I am committed to ensuring everyone in New Jersey who wants to receive a COVID-19 vaccination can receive a dose this fall from trusted health professionals,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said.
The actions come in time for respiratory virus season and amid increases in reported COVID-19 cases across the country.
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It also comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated versions of the COVID vaccine but authorized them only for people 65 and older or for people who have an underlying medical condition.
The move prompted Gov. Hochul to sign an executive order last Friday allowing New Yorkers to get a COVID vaccine at pharmacies in the state without a prescription.
As for New Jersey, the Department of Heath said new vaccines are expected to be available in some locations in the state now, and statewide in the coming weeks.
To locate a vaccination provider, visit Vaccines.gov. The department says New Jerseyans can expect vaccines to be available from sites like primary care providers, chain pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other health care institutions.
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